Rocket projector and projectile



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IN1/Emol; w15. Pope W. B. POPE ROCKET PROJECTOR AND PROECTILE Filed Aug.- 23, 1944 June 3, i947.

Patented June 3, 1947 .ROCKET PROJECTOR AND PROJECTILE Winslow B. Pope, Detroit, Mich., assigner, byl

mesne assignments, to United States of America Application August 23, 1944, Serial No. 550,686

2 Claims. l

This invention relates to rocket projectiles, particularly to improved mechanism for improving the firing of the same.

The conventional method of ring a rocket projectile is to suitably support. the projectile land then ignite the propelling charge which through reaction forces starts the projectile in night. The propelling charge in most cases is eiective for only a small portion of the flight of the projectile.

It is the object of the present invention to.

provide a new land novel arrangement whereby a rocket projectile may rst be set in flight by means other than its propelling charge and at a predetermined point in the iiight, or distance from the objective, the propelling charge of the rocket projectile ignited with the result that the speed of travel of the projectile is increased, thus providing for greater striking force or range or both.

A further object is to provide a new and novel arrangement in association with a rocket device for predetermining the time at which the rocket propelling charge is ignited.

With the above and other objects in view which will be apparent from the following description to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, the present invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to ythe accompanying drawing, and then claimed.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a projecting device, partially in section, showing a rocket projectile in position therein for ring;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the projecting mechanism and a portion of the rocket projectile in ring position; and

Figure 3 is a rear end view of the projector shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the projector embodies a tubular casing IU threadably secured to the rearward end of the barrel I t, the barrel being riiied as indicated at I2. The casing I0 has its inner wall contoured to define a pressure chamber I3 adjacent the barrel II and a rearwardly and outwardly daring Venturi passage I4 at the rearward end, the wall being 2 stepped inwardly at I3 between the chamber I3 vand passage Il to provide a throat I5 of reduced diameter. Arranged within the chamber I3 is a. spider I6 having a hub Il and outwardly extending legs |3 engaging the stepped portion I3. Cap screws 20 extending through the casing wall rigidly secure the spider I6 in position.

Within the chamber I3 is a charge supporting tube 2| which extends coaxially through the hub |'l and has a shoulder 22 engaging the ,forward side of the spider I6. The rearward end 'of the tube 2| which projects beyondy the spider is ex-l ternally threaded. Disposed within the Venturi passage Il is a vaned member 23 having a hub portion 24 threaded to the projecting end of the tube 2| and a plurality of .outwardly extending vanes 25, the planes of which are at an angle to the axis of the Venturi passage I4 whereby the gases from a charge 26 will imping against the same and tend to rotate the casing in opposition to the tendency toward rotation resulting from theflring of the projectile from the gun barrel.

The propelling charge 26 is annular in formation and is supported on the tube 2| as shown.

The hub portion 24 is provided with an axial opening 21 therethrough in axial alignment with the tube 2|, which opening is enlarged at 28 to receive a compression spring 29 which urges a stop member 30 into engagement with the end of the tube 2|. Disposed within the opening 21 and extending within the spring 29 and through the stop member 3|) into the tube 2| is a plunger rod 3|, the rod 3| being secured to the stop member 30 by a. cross pin 32. The forward end of the rod 3| is supported by an annular guide 32' carried within the forward end of the tube 2| and having a series of flash ignition apertures therein. The rod 3| projects beyond the end of the hub 24 and carries a pull ring 33 .which can be grasped by the operatorv to retract the rod against the compression of the spring 23 `and thus arm the mechanism ready for firing, A removable'lanyard pin 34 is provided 'to extend transversely through the hub v24 to lengage one of two annular recesses in the rod 3I-the recess 35 for locking the rod 3| in a firing position for high angle shot and the recess 36 for locking tht: rod 3| in its completely retracted tiring p0- si on.

The projectile embodies a main body 31 having a chamber 38 for an explosive charge, and a rearwardly extending tubular casing 39 having its rearward end contoured to detlne an axial and rearwardly opening Venturi passage 40. The rocket or propelling charge is in the form of a number of sticks 4| of combustible material carried by rods 42 forming part of a cage or supporting structure 43 arranged within the casing 39.

Securely carried by the Venturi end of the casing 33 is an annular ring 41 to whichrsuitable stabilizing ilus 44 are pivotally mounted. These fins areV pivote'd against `the Venturi en d of the casing 39 when the projectile is in the projecting tube or barrel but pivot radially outwardly into stabilizing position when the projectile leaves the barrel il. A

In accordance with the present invention, a plate-like member 45 closes the Venturi psage 40 of the projectile during firing from the gun.

In the form shown, the plate-like member 45 isl provided with a peripheral ilange 46 within which the annular ring 41 is rmly positioned but not permanently as will later appear. 'I'he plate-like the tube. Also, upon member 45 carries a central boss-like element 48 extending therethrough which in turn carries a. tubular member 49 disposed axially within the Venturi passage 40. The tubular member 43 may be of any desired length and contains at its forward end a suitable ash charge 50 and rearwardly thereof a slow-burning powder charge 5I. Suitable passages 52 extend through the bosslike element 48 into communication with the powder charge 5i within the tubular member 49.

Also carried by the boss-like portion 48 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a cartridge 53 which carries a suitable flash charge (not shown).

Normally in the ring position, the projectile, which is inserted in the muzzle end of the barrel H, is disposed at the rearward end of the barrel with the bosslike element 4B abutting the end of the tubular member 2| and the cartridge 53 extending into the tubular member 2| as shown in Figure 2. It is to be vunderstood however that with the projectile in this position, the rod 3i is in its retracted position and locked in safety position through engagement of the lanyard pin 34 with the groove 36.

vSecured to the rearward side of the plate 45 is an annular ring 54 having a flexible ange 55 substantially engaging the bore of the barrel il when the projectile is inserted in the barrel, which serves as an obturating disc when the projectile is fired and as a pressure seat to prevent .gas pressure from being expanded past the projectile.

When it is desired to re the projectile on a substantially horizontal plane the operator removes the lanyard pin 34 from recess 36 and the compression of the spring 29 urges the rod .3| forwardly, causing the end thereof to strike the cartridge 53 and explode the same. The flash or flame of this explosion travels backwardly through the tube 2l', the apertures in the guide 32 and thence through the cross passages 5S, to ignite the charge 26. -In'high angle iring, the lanyard pin 34 isv placed in recess 35 to lock the rodl 3| against movement so that when the projectile is dropped in the muzzle end of the barrel Il it will strike the forward end of the pin 3| to set off the cartridge 53.

The pressure developed in the chamber I3 by the charge 28 provides the motive force for the projectile, causing the same to be projected 'from 4 firing of the charge the pressures acting directly against the ring 4I4 and flange 55 tends to drive the ilange l5 ,into the riiling I2 whereby during travel through the barrel H the projectile is caused to rotate. When the projectile leaves the barrel the uns 44 pivot radially outwardly into stabilizing position. y

A portion of the name resulting from ignition of the charge 26 travels through the passages I2 to ignite the slow-burning powder Il which is contained within the tube 4I. burning of the powder 5I is so predetermined that the burning powder will not ignite the flash charge 50 until a predetermined point in the flight of the projectile after, of course, it leaves the barrel Il. This may be predetermined to take place at any point between the barrel I I and the objective. The flame resulting from ignition of the flash charge 50 ignites the propelling charge sticks 4I. The pressure developed from the propelling charge first blows the plate 45 from the annular ring 41 and during continued burning of the propelling charge increases the velocity of the projectile, thus increasing the striking eifect oi' the same.

It is thus seen that I have provided a method oi' firing rocket-type projectiles whereby after the projectile has been set in flight and approaches its objective added velocity is imparted thereto at any point in its flight to increase its striking force or penetrating effect, and wherein the distance from the objective at which the rocket or propelling charge becomes effective to increase the speed of flight can be predetermined. In the present example this is predetermined bythe substitution for the plate 45 of a corresponding plate in which the period of burning of the powder 5| or other suitable material is greater or less as the ease may be, depending upon time desired for lsetting off the flash charge 58. i

Obviously, other well-known means of initially igniting the projector charge 2B may be utilized in lieu of the firing pin arrangement described.

It is to be understood that while a specific form of projector and rocket projectile have been described for the purpose of illustration, other forms may be utilized with equal" eilect, and that various changes may be made in thel detailed construction and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit-and substance of the invention, the scope of which is deiined by the appended claims.

What is claimedis: 1. The combination with a recoilless projector l having a firing chamber, a barrel projecting therefrom and a powder charge supported within said chamber; of a rocket type projectile supportable in said barrel with its rear end adjacent said chamber, a member carried by said projectile substantially closing communication between said barrel and chamber, a primer cartridge carried by said member, and a firing pinv supported within'said chamber, said flring pin being operable to lre said primer cartridge whereby firing of said cartridge ignites said powder charge.

. 2. The combination with a -recoilless projector having a. firing chamber, a barrel projecting therefrom and a powder charge supported within said chamber; of a rocket type projectile supportable in said barrel with'its rear end adjacent said chamber, a` member carried by said projectile substantially closing communication between said barrel and chamber, a primer car- The period of 5 tridge carried by said member, and a nring pin supported within said chamber, said ring pin being operable to fire said primer cartridge whereby ring of said cartridge ignites said powder charge, said projectile containing a propelling 5 REFERENCES CITED The following 'references are of record in the tile of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS' Y Name Date Gathmann Dec. 26, 1893 Skinner Mar. 19, 1935 Anzalone Mar. 28, 1944 Young May 2, 1899 Elliot May 23, 1899 Mlxsell .j Oct. 5, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain May 29, 1897 Germany Oct. 12, 1923 

